Wilbur Lawrence Jurden Jr., beloved husband, father, brother and friend, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2023, at the age of 83. Known as Bill by most, and Billy in his youth, he was born In Buffalo, New York, on March 17, 1940, the oldest of three children of Wilbur L. Jurden Sr. and Marjorie Wilkerson Jurden. Bill was an intelligent and determined individual who influenced the lives of many.
Bill attended Arcadia High School, graduating in 1958, and went on to earn a BA in Accounting and Economics and then a MBA from the University of Washington where he later taught classes in accounting. He was a U.S. Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade from June 1962 to June 1966. He proudly served out of Guam as a gunnery officer and a navigator on two Navy combat vessels, each deployed to the Vietnam conflict zone.
Bill's professional career was expansive and took him to many places in the world. He worked as a CPA, business executive, independent consultant in a variety of companies and settings, such as Touche, Ross, Bailey Smart, The NY Saturday Evening Post, The Koninklijke Nederlandse Stoomboot-Maatschappij (KNSM), and in Washington State School Districts. Most notably, Bill excelled as a senior executive manager at Boeing, integrating highly classified Defense Department systems for Boeing Aerospace and Defense. He brought his dedication and expertise to every project he undertook.
Outside of his career, Bill found joy in connecting with people through his work, travels, and hobbies. He played football in high school, rowed crew both in and after college. He was an enthusiastic UW Husky fan, and was dedicated tohis Phi Gamma Delta fraternity friendships. He loved tending to his garden and fruit trees and always shared their yields. After retirement, he joined the Beekeepers Association and became an avid beekeeper. He enjoyed walking his dog on the beach and watching the ships, submarines, and boats pass by.
Bill, a dedicated and involved father and grandfather, is survived by and will be dearly missed by his daughter, Tresje Jurden Seeley, her husband Kevin, and their children, Sophia and Gabriel; as well as his son, Christopher L. Jurden, his wife, Alanna, and their children, Connor and Cassie. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Judith Dennis Jurden.
A funeral service to honor the life of Willbur L. Jurden will be held on December 16, 2023, on Marrowstone Island, Washington. The compassionate professionals at Kosec Funeral Home and Crematory in Port Townsend, Washington, are assisting the family with the arrangements.
